PROJECT FIVE
EXPLORE-
ATIONS
SOFTWARE USED
PROJECT SUMMARY
A series of experimental 3D studies exploring material development, simulation, dynamics, and photorealism within Cinema 4D. Across denim, tennis, rock, sponge, and clay-based projects, I tested cloth, rigid body, soft body, and hair simulations alongside lighting, camera movement, depth of field, rendering, and sound design. The collection focuses on developing a stronger understanding of physical behaviour, material realism, scene optimisation, and cinematic presentation.
CINEMA 4D
AFTER EFFECTS
PHOTOSHOP
BLENDER
MATERIAL EXPLORATIONS
SPONGE DROP
Sponge has always been an interesting material to recreate in 3D due to its complex surface, softness, and physical behaviour. This project was created as a material and simulation study, with the aim of replicating the visual and dynamic qualities of sponge as closely as possible.
A combination of material development, soft-body dynamics, and lighting was used to emphasise the porous surface, depth, and tactile qualities of the material. Lighting played an important role in bringing out the finer surface details and helping the sponge feel more believable within the scene.
To demonstrate the material interaction, a cork ball was dropped onto the sponges, allowing the simulation to explore compression, bounce, and deformation on impact. Sound design was then added in post-production to reinforce the sense of weight, texture, and physical interaction.
CINEMA 4D
AFTER EFFECTS
PHOTOSHOP
MATERIAL EXPLORATIONS
CLAY
This project explores a clay material from Greyscalegorilla, with a strong focus on achieving a sense of photorealism through lighting, camera work, and depth.
The study was centred around refining cinematic camera movement and lens behaviour, including focal distance, depth of field, and subtle camera shake to create a more natural and believable visual language. Lighting was carefully developed to enhance the material’s surface detail, form, and realism, while the camera dynamics helped give the final piece a more tactile and photographic quality.
BLENDER
AFTER EFFECTS
PHOTOSHOP
MATERIAL EXPLORATIONS
DENIM
This was a small experimental motion project focused on developing and refining a realistic denim material through cloth simulation. The aim was to closely replicate the weight, structure, and movement of denim within a short, dynamic visual study, while strengthening my understanding of simulation workflows and material behaviour.
The project was created in Cinema 4D, with compositing and motion refinement completed in After Effects, and final still imagery enhanced in Photoshop.
CINEMA 4D
AFTER EFFECTS
PHOTOSHOP
MATERIAL EXPLORATIONS
PEBBLES
Continuing my exploration of Cinema 4D’s simulation tools, this project focused on rigid body dynamics using Bullet physics. The aim was to push the simulation system by creating a dense, visually engaging field of moving rocks, driven by turbulent forces to generate more complex and unpredictable interactions.
Alongside the visual experimentation, the project also challenged me to optimise a relatively heavy 3D scene, balancing simulation complexity, visual quality, and efficient render times. This involved refining the setup to maintain a high level of detail without compromising performance.
The final sequence was composited and refined in After Effects, where I also introduced sound design to enhance the sense of weight, movement, and impact throughout the animation.
CINEMA 4D
AFTER EFFECTS
PHOTOSHOP
MATERIAL EXPLORATIONS
TENNIS
This project was inspired by Wimbledon 2025 and created as an opportunity to explore Cinema 4D’s simulation systems, including rigid body, soft body, and hair dynamics.
The concept centred around two tennis balls colliding and interacting through physically driven animation. The aim was to create a believable sense of weight, impact, and deformation, while using hair dynamics to realistically simulate the movement of the ball fibres in response to changes in velocity, rotation, and collision forces.
A subtle layer of sound design was also added to reinforce the impacts and movement, giving the final piece more energy and helping bring the simulation to life.
BLENDER
AFTER EFFECTS
PHOTOSHOP
LOCATION
SOCIAL